Tuesday, 20 December 2016

The life of a former Women's Protection Units (YPJ) and Peshmarga volunteer, Joanna Palani, has been put in danger after several Kurdish media outlets published news saying the Islamic State (IS/ISIS/ISIL) had put a $1 million bounty for her death, say friends.
The report, first published on Rudaw, did not give any sources for the claim but was then picked up by NRT who based it on a non-existent report on the Peshmerga Spokesman Jabar Yawar's website.

Since then international news outlets such as the UK Sun have also picked up on the story. The jihadist group IS has not made a statement about the issue.
Friends of Palani, who has been jailed in Denmark for breaking a travel ban imposed on her after fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, are concerned the false news may endanger her life.

Speaking to Kurdishquestion.com, a friend of the woman who didn't want to be named said, "I'm shocked, I mean how can people report this without sources. They are putting her life in danger, don't they realise this? What if she is attacked in Denmark?"
Palani had told Vice earlier this year that she had been receiving threats. “It’s very difficult for me, as there many people who are against me still in Copenhagen – some IS people," she had said.

Palani recently recorded a video from prison calling on people to support the Kurdish forces fighting the IS group in Syria and Iraq. She is expected to be remanded in custody for at least six months.